You want a sdc2300 for tasmania in my option. Just bought a 4500 with a mono elite coil found gold down to 0.02 grams at Heathcote last weekend as did the sdc2300 . The sdc2300 has a small fixed 8inch coil can fold up into laptop bag and has know wire to get snagged up in thick tassie bush

Hi Wally,For detecting gold in Tasmania I never had much luck with my Garrett AT Gold. Great as a coin and treasure machine, because it has good discrimination, but it warbled like a canary wherever the ground was a bit mineralised. The same will probably be the issue with most VLF machines.If I was you I'd be looking at a PI machine (pulse induction). The Whites SPP retails for not much over $1K new, and I hear it's not a bad machine. There may be good older machines like Minelab SD series for about your budget. The main thing is that most detectors seem to keep their value fairly well, so you shouldn't have too much trouble selling it if you decide to upgrade.

if i had to buy one detector to do the lot on small gold, it would be the SDC2300. Worth saving a bit more for. Its easier to use and less cumbersome and distracting than the Garrett ATX. And, has found more gold in a short space of time against all type of detectors, VLF, MPS and Pulse. Small flakes and shotty gold and <1oz nuggets. And that's exactly what we get in Tassie. They have been very effective in far NW NSW on their small gold. Fully water proof, compact and a reliable performer. I got one last year for $2400 for a friend in QLD. so they do come up cheaper sometimes. Whites GMT is also highly recommended on the mainland WA and VIC and can be got for around $1000.